FILM REVIEW: ​STRIX

BY JOE X YOUNG 

A short French film from Director Roman Soni

 
Many filmmakers produce short movies with varying results in terms of production quality, acting ability et cetera, some having very ill-conceived and poorly executed ideas, but I am glad to say this film by Roman Soni is not one of them. A shade less than 13 minutes long Strix begins with an unfortunate woman being attacked and murdered and a Venetian mask being left by her body. We then jump forward 12 years to an almost obligatory shower scene, rather than the usual woman taking a shower getting stabbed by an assailant this woman is actually able to finish her ablutions and get dressed. There is however someone at the door, that someone is wearing the same Venetian mask.

What could be a standard slasher flick takes a little diversion as the guy in the mask holds the woman hostage. Her husband and his friend arrive back at the house to find her with a knife being held at her throat, and they are told they must play a questions and answers game or she will die.
At this point you’re probably thinking that you can guess the rest, and if you manage to your better at this than I am because although I got some of it in advance it was clever enough to include a satisfying twist.

The stars, Corentin Cuvelier, Sebastien Wust, Emilie Gn, Yohan Desvaux and Juline Thibaut all add class to the proceedings with clear and credible performances.

The technical aspects are solid, the score near-perfect and special effects as good as anything out there.

Obviously with it being less than 13 minutes long there is not a hell of a lot of content to review, certainly not without giving major spoilers. So I will go no further except to say that it’s available on YouTube and worth 13 minutes of anyone’s time. It is in French, so you may need to toggle the subtitle setting.
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1EDk4jF_cU